Rochdale

Rochdale's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, ethnicity and marriage.

The population passed 210,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Rochdale increased by 3.1%, from just over 205,000 to 212,000.

The addition of about 6,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rochdale was home to, on average, 9.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Rochdale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Rochdale increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This multi-cultural area had a slightly lower average age than the North West and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 4,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 10% of people in Rochdale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Rochdale residents that were unemployed increased from 3.9% to 5.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in two (50%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale residents that were self-employed increased from 7.0% to 7.9%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Rochdale increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Rochdale, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Rochdale

The percentage of Rochdale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.4%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.1% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Rochdale that rented privately increased from 6.5% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in four (23%) households lived in social housing, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale households that owned their home decreased from 66% to 62%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Rochdale increased by 6.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rochdale, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Rochdale

The number of people in Rochdale from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 180,000 in 2001 to just over 170,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 89% to 82% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Rochdale from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 21,000 in 2001 to about 32,000 in 2011 (from 10% to 15%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,900 to just under 3,600 (from 0.9% to 1.7%).

Just under 2,800 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 650 in 2001 (1.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Rochdale decreased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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